The Rap Guide to Human Nature

by Baba Brinkman

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1.	You Can't See Me 03:42	lyrics	buy track
The blind stares of a million pairs of third eyes Lookin’ hard but they don’t realize That they will never see Reality Who am I? I ain’t nothin’ but a tour guide Usin’ science like an x-ray to see into your mind I’m a voracious reader and a ruthless questioner So if you hate the way I see things, don’t shoot the messenger! But I’m not gonna lie, I get a personal thrill Whenever I see science get popularized So no, I’m not objective; good thing science Has a something called a “method” that we can use to cross-reference And acquire knowledge that’s really authentic That’s how we know the solar system is heliocentric And that’s how we know Charles Darwin’s theory was right And every living creature is connected through the tree of life Yeah, welcome to the future baby, a time when science Is even illuminating the roots of human behaviour So why do fish swim well and birds fly well? For the same reason human beings lie to themselves You can’t see me – which means you can’t clock me You can’t tell which parts of my signal are costly You can’t see me – which means you can’t test me Your cheater detection instincts can’t detect me You can’t see me – I’m the invisible gorilla The blind spot in your vision that your mind has to fill up You can’t see me – but if you can’t see me Just imagine what else you can’t see So just close your eyes when you listen to rap And you’ll find a microcosm of the human mental map Everything from costly signals to kin selection ‘Cause face it, you can’t see your motives with introspection That’s simply how the human mind has been designed That’s why my mom thinks that I’m the greatest rapper alive That’s evolution – it’s genetic nepotism And yes, rap is a sexually-selected exhibition That’s why rappers are so obsessed with fornicating Maybe high-status males just prefer short-term mating And if you don’t think status is real, just think back To the last time you had a rejection, how did it feel? Whether a job application or a chat with the person next to you Having status is having people say ‘yes’ to you So how do I get you to say ‘yes’ to me as a rap guide? Should I get a PhD or swing more to the gangster side? Yeah, you can’t see me – so just close your eyes And let my identity be a total surprise So you can’t see me – yeah I’m jamming the signal Who cares what I look like? Don’t be so judgmental You can’t see me – and what if I claimed That I was from the streets, just tryin’ to get outta the game? You can’t see me – and what if I said That I just freestyle all these lyrics off the top of my head? You can’t see me, so you can’t quite say that I’m lyin’ But your mind is calculating to decide if it’s worth replyin' And if you call me a liar, that’s ‘strong reciprocity’ Altruistic punishment, sacrificing to stop a cheat And if you claim to believe, that’s an early adoption And you get to earn respect if I turn out to be awesome See, every time we actively choose, status accrues And every choice is a trust that others have a chance to abuse And that’s why we inhabit the world of cheater detection And that’s why costly signaling is naturally selected ‘Cause every organism only perceives what it needs For survival and reproduction, like ultraviolet for bees And sonar for bats, there’s so much we can’t see But the one thing we have evolved to catch is cheats ‘Cause people act like cheats to advance their genes When means the one place I can’t turn my gaze is: back at me You can’t see me – or maybe you can, hell I might as well be talkin’ to my damn self When I say you can’t see me – so to the whole human race You can pray and meditate until you’re blue in the face But you still can’t see me – call me “human nature” Without using evolution as an illuminator You can’t see me – it’s an act of defiance An alliance between rap and rationalism ‘Cause only science can see me
2.	Hypothesis 1 (Creationism) 01:30	lyrics	buy track
Darwinism is just preposterous Richard Dawkins and the rest of his apocalyptic posse Just use biology to advance their hateful atheist doctrines But the bible teaches us that human nature is fallen Because we fell into temptation with original sin That’s why rap music is all about “bitches and rims” Rappers are just giving in to their God-given Sensual whims, and the Devil is watching with a wicked grin Evolution isn’t just a failed theory with a lack of proof It’s also a direct attack on moral absolutes Without the bible you can’t even say Hitler was bad for the Jews So if you’re a fan of Darwin, you’re a fan of the Nazis too At best, evolution is just a useful metaphor For man’s God-given ability to change and choose a better course So don’t even bother showing me the bones of a stegosaurus It probably died in the flood, which the fossil record supports
3.	No Bugs On Me 04:58	lyrics	buy track
Now the monkey swings by the end of his tail As he flies from tree to tree Well there may be monkey in some of you guys But there ain’t no monkey in me And there ain’t no bugs on me There ain’t no bugs on me There may be bugs on some of you mugs But there ain’t no bugs on me Yeah, there ain’t no bugs on me Just on you liberal freaks… Who says science and religion will never harmonize? When science explains religion then we’ll have a compromise But not the specific magical claims I’m talkin’ about the relevant psychological states Like, for instance, why is Darwinism such a toxic Proposition for conservative religions But not for liberal religions like Episcopalianism See, it’s not the religion, it’s the conservatism So what’s the difference between conservatives and liberals? Moral psychologists have a definition that’s simple Liberals like myself are just higher in a stable Personality trait known as ‘openness to experience’ We think novelty’s great – new people, new places, New types of food, new lovers whenever someone Inspires the mood, and it might seem like this life is a dream But novelty is the place where parasites breed Which gives us a delicious little testable prediction For the scientific method to consider Namely that openness to experience and liberalism Should be influenced by micro-organisms In your environment, and does the evidence agree? Man, you wouldn’t believe how much your political leanings Can be predicted by the local threat of infectious disease So all my social conservatives sing! There ain’t no bugs on me There ain’t no bugs on me There may be bugs on some of you mugs But there ain’t no bugs on me So let’s celebrate every universal of humanness Like the fact that xenophobia is an immune defense Where the brain gets a signal from the lymphatic system That says: “Be afraid of anything that’s dramatically different” And fundamentalism is the same kinda fear Dangerous bugs, dangerous people, and Darwin’s dangerous idea But it’s not about intellect – well, if you wanna get picky Openness correlates with intelligence moderately But I have creationist cousins, and they’re as smart as whips And they think I’m retarded for being a Darwinist And maybe I am retarded, maybe my liberalism Is like a form of autism, like my brain is disconnected From traditional ethics, ‘cause I’m always disrespecting Apparently arbitrary religious messages Like when a devout jew or muslim says the blood of a menstruating Woman is unclean, what the hell does that mean? Is it somehow different than if she cuts her finger when she’s cookin’ And bleeds? How is it immoral if it doesn’t hurt someone? I just don’t get it, to me blood is blood And ladies, I’m down to prove it when it’s time to cut a rug If you’re bleeding and horny, just give me a warning and we’ll Put a towel down to save the sheets and go ‘til three in the morning Ugh, no wonder conservatives hate godless liberals So all my Tory brethren sing along, and it goes… There ain’t no bugs on me There ain’t no bugs on me There may be bugs on some of you mugs But there ain’t no bugs on me Yeah, the modern liberal is a recent mutant A novelty-seeking novelty of evolution But don’t you start feelin’ too much like the X-Men ‘Cause I can test your openness with targeted questions Like for instance – imagine your family dog dies And you all decide to memorialize the poor old guy By eating him stir-fried, are you on the wrong side Of the moral equation, and if not one is harmed, why? As a committed liberal I can see both sides But everyone has a bit of a conservative bias ‘Cause those who don’t get naturally deselected Like for instance, pregnant women are measurably More xenophobic in their first trimester ‘Cause the fetus gives them an immuno-compromised system So next time you listen to Nick Griffin or Glenn Beck And you get vexed, like “fuck this little hate-monger insect!” Just think of it as an immune system imbalance Like a pregnant woman who pukes every time she eats salads And if you wanna see the end of oppression in Palestine Or homophobia in Uganda, or female genital mutilation In the Sudan, well then maybe the answer Is water sanitation and a vaccination agenda So let’s all just sing along to the words of wisdom It’s the germ theory of conservatism There ain’t no bugs on me There ain’t no bugs on me There may be bugs on some of you mugs But there ain’t no bugs on me
4.	David Buss Message 01:30	lyrics	buy track
Hey Baba, David Buss here. Just reading over your lyrics for your cool new album, Human Nature, and I really love it, but one line struck me, the line about the blood of a menstruating woman being unclean. Well, there’s a very fascinating evolutionary theory about the function of menstruation by Margie Profet. Basically what she argues is that sperm are a disease vector that pathogens and other disease organisms use to hitchhike their way into the female reproductive tract, and that menstruation basically functions to expel those disease organisms and pathogens. So if she’s right then the menstrual blood of women is actually different form the blood you get when you cut your finger. Anyway, just thought you might want to know about this. Take care, bye.
5.	Hypothesis 2 (Spiritualism) 01:19	lyrics	buy track
Evolution is a beautiful, unifying vision But when science gets too ambitious, it shades into “scientism” If you take the time to listen to enlightened mystics Like the Dalai Llama, you’ll see, there’s other kinds of wisdom What can Darwin teach me about the transcendental experiences I’ve found through meditation, or the boundless mysteriousness Of existence? What? That I’m just delirious And it’s just an illusion that corresponds to certain neurological areas? C’mon, let’s be serious; it’s not all in the cerebellum! Human nature has a physical level, and a spirit level And the transcendent is imminent in the material – it’s very subtle But it’s a theory for which science has no clear rebuttal Consciousness came before matter, not vice versa, and it’s Only through love and compassion that the spirit side emerges And rappers are channeling that spirit when they recite their verses But all the sex and violence, well, that’s biological urges
6.	The Planter's Dilemma 04:32	lyrics	buy track
So you want hippies huh? Alright, I’ll give you hippies Come to BC, meet some tree platners We’ll teach you ‘bout the prisoner’s dilemma I was raised with a spade in my hand – ecosystem Restoration is the game that my fam plays Reforestation of our native land – pine, larch Spruce, fir – the species we mainly plant Rappers wanna brag about a seven figure salary I’ve planted seven figures worth of trees by hand With ten fingers in the dirt since the age of seventeen If you ask me, I’ll be like, yeah, that’s a G Planting trees is kinda like the game of life You get paid for your efforts and never paid for your time Yeah, it’s piecework, so there’s a rat-race side You gotta hustle if you wanna make your pay-cheque nice But it’s team-work, ‘cause you’re workin’ with a crew And you gotta coordinate with the person next to you ‘Cause the decisions that you make affect them too And efficiency is created by collective rules See, you’re following a line of trees on one side And there’s another line of trees that you’re leaving behind And the space between trees is three meters wide It’s like watching a game of Pac-man played in rewind And the goal is to never have to cross over trees Just fill the open space on the block economically And never make another planter walk over trees ‘Cause we go at different speeds, so don’t cut me off please! If I cheat and you don’t cheat then I profit If you cheat and I don’t cheat then you profit So we both cheat, so we can each keep somethin’ But where did all the non-cheaters go? If you don’t cheat, and I don’t, the team profits And people on teams can achieve some deep pockets The cheats won’t beat us as long as we keep watchin’ So if you cheat, we’re gonna know It’s like a sophisticated game of follow the leader Where the lead player changes every couple of meters And everybody’s watching for cheaters, if you’re awful eager To plant the soft easy ground, then we’ll call you a “creamer” ‘Cause there’s rocks and fallen trees and piles of branches And swamps and weeds, and nice lines of trenches And it’s easy for opportunists to try to take advantage Of co-operative units to advance their own interests So how do we regulate? Hmm, in several ways But reputation is the most effective way We swim in a sea of gossip, and we punish reprobates With the threat of the loss of their option to participate We got groups within groups, the truck is a six pack But a lot of people like to work in pairs so they can chit chat And we live in camps of several dozen who interact On a daily basis, yeah, it’s quite a mish mash And sometimes we seem to move with a group mind Like a flock of birds, a school of fish, or a pride of lions But that’s just the illusion of top-down design Welcome to sociobiology, the new science The coordination comes from simple local rules That combine to produce the most cogent moves At multiple levels, from genes to social groups The same way your neurons compose you If I cheat and you don’t cheat then I profit If you cheat and I don’t cheat then you profit So we both cheat, so we can each keep somethin’ But where did all the non-cheaters go? If you don’t cheat, and I don’t, the team profits And people on teams can achieve some deep pockets The cheats won’t beat us as long as we keep watchin’ So if you cheat, we’re gonna know It’s the prisoner’s dilemma, you’ve been charged with a crime But you get off scot free if you snitch and drop dime And if your partner snitches on you, you’re knocked for life So you both snitch, and you both do hard time If only you had some kind of “code of the streets” Some way to punish cheats – you could both go free Ironically, the challenge is acting pro-socially So we probably shouldn’t model it with cut-throat thieves The point is about where your interests lie If you’re locked up, well then they’re just outside But in modern society we live cooperative lives And cooperatives are the best place to catch free rides So who’s “pimping the system” and who’s snitchin’? In game theory terms, “snitchin’” means defection From a collective, along with the loss of its protection It’s the “tragedy of the commons” the hip-hop edition ‘Cause a gangster whose motto is “stop snitchin’" Is a snitch from the perspective of honest citizens And the Kyoto accord is a dilemma for prisoners Of this planet, and those who block it are snitches But the system only works if the members see an active Distribution of benefits, and graduated sanctions Just like the tree-planters, ‘cause whatever the endeavor Life is just an iterated prisoner’s dilemma If I cheat and you don’t cheat then I profit If you cheat and I don’t cheat then you profit So we both cheat, so we can each keep somethin’ But where did all the non-cheaters go? If you don’t cheat, and I don’t, the team profits And people on teams can achieve some deep pockets The cheats won’t beat us as long as we keep watchin’ So if you cheat, we’re gonna know The prisoner’s dilemma is part cooperation And part competition, it’s an elegant model For the evolution of social behaviour It’s a cross between “turn the other cheek” And “an eye for an eye” And the better we understand it The better our chances of surviving So how do you punish cheats, huh? Oh, you don’t punish cheats? Shame on you! Shame!
7.	Hypothesis 3 (Social Constructivism) 01:19	lyrics	buy track
Of course evolution is true! It’s one of the central planks of the modern humanist view And science is an important tool if you wanna fly to the moon But on the subject of human nature, Darwin is decidedly mute Why? Because humans evolved language and culture And for these things, biological explanations falter Because behaviour can be altered in infinite ways So the brain is like a lump of clay just waiting for a sculptor That’s why sociobiology is so dangerous! Instead of celebrating the diversity of human symbols and languages They think it’s all chained to genetic entanglements Which means there’s no room for change and constant moral evasiveness If rap is based on human nature then we’re basically fucked! Just prostitutes and gangsters and thugs There’s so much more we’re capable of! No way It’s racist capitalism and patriarchy that makes it so ugly
8.	She's Ovulating 06:15	lyrics	buy track
She’s ovulating – if she was a stripper I wouldn’t know why but I’d probably wanna tip her She’s ovulating – she’s dressed so provocative My histocompatibility complex is majorly Intoxicating – girl, I’m so symmetrical But you can’t tell if you’re on a contraceptive pill Instead of ovulating – I’m not tryin’ to conceive with you But right now something makes me wanna be with you You want a job done fast, you want a job done cheap You want a job done well, you gotta pick two out of three ‘Cause the price goes up when demand swells So if your contractor has skills, he pads his bills And if you don’t like it, build the porch your damn self Fast and cheap and headed for the landfill And it might sound ruthless, but what’s true for Someone trying’ to get their roof fixed, is true for sex And not just human sex, the cost of mating Is a price that evolution sets ‘Cause high-value mates are always in demand But there’s a bit of an imbalance between a woman and man How come? Because of the outcome Alright, let’s make a deal – I’ll give you an ounce of spunk And one night of childish fun, and you give me Nine months of your life, and when the child comes It takes a few decades to show the kid how it’s done Oh, what, you want help? Um… Yeah, I have a few ounces of spunk left to spread around, hon You know, ninety-nine problems, but this ain’t one What? The deal’s off? Why? Just ‘cause you’ve got Fifty other guys tryin’ to undercut the price? Just because you’re contributing hundreds of times More resources to this otherwise equally shared enterprise? Okay, fine, what’s your counter-offer then? You want me to promise never to sleep with another woman again As long as I live? And if I did? Oh, what, you’d probably forgive As long as I didn’t fall in love with her And have a bunch of other kids – oh, what, there’s more? You also want me to invest every possible resource In you and the kids, and pay for education and team sports And shit? What do I look like, a fuckin’ seahorse? Oh, what, you’ll do the same, huh? Well, you kind of have to It’s your limitations that I’m trying to adapt to You’re not the one with the potential to inseminate The entire planet if only you had the chance to, yeah, thank you Yeah, me and every other guy, right, yeah, I get it Our resources are worthless, because they’re practically unlimited Which puts us in a shit negotiating position Like slave labour in the insemination business She’s ovulating – if she was a stripper I wouldn’t know why but I’d probably wanna tip her She’s ovulating – she’s dressed so provocative My histocompatibility complex is majorly Intoxicating – girl, I’m so symmetrical But you can’t tell if you’re on a contraceptive pill Instead of ovulating – I’m not tryin’ to conceive with you But right now something makes me wanna be with you Alright, I have one final card to play before we make deal You know, every ounce of spunk is not created equal Some of it will give you smarter kids, some of it will give you Hardier kids whose immune systems give them longer to live And you have this fertility cycle that gives you subtle clues About who to choose, so this is all just a ruse To convert my mating effort into parental solicitude Oh, what am I gonna do about it? Well, there’s nothing I can do But it’s true! ‘Cause you don’t make it simple like a chimp, no! You could have evolved a pink swollen genital symbol Advertising your fertility window, but no! And I know why too! It’s to keep a guy limbo You’re so deceitful, I don’t believe it! It’s like you have a biological non-disclosure agreement To maintain your competitive edge and get repetitive sex From the same guy long enough to see your genetic relatives fledged ‘Cause if I knew exactly when you were ovulating Well then good luck negotiating any long-term arrangements But you don’t even know, that’s the impressive bit Yeah, but can you pin it down without arithmetic? She’s ovulating – if she was a stripper I wouldn’t know why but I’d probably wanna tip her She’s ovulating – she’s dressed so provocative My histocompatibility complex is majorly Intoxicating – girl, I’m so symmetrical But you can’t tell if you’re on a contraceptive pill Instead of ovulating – I’m not tryin’ to conceive with you But right now something makes me wanna be with you Okay, so you don’t exactly know when it is But we can measure it and how it affects your preferences See, I’ve been reading up on you scheming sluts And there’s a method to your madness, and yeah, it’s devious What changes is your preference for specific traits And the relative weight you assign them in potential mates When you hit peak fertility, suddenly you’re into symmetry And guys with no resources but high creativity When just a week before you were all about liquidity And suddenly now it’s what? Facial masculinity And fantasizing about infidelity? – Pathetic! These are obviously adaptations to maximize the genetic Quality of your offspring at the expense of wannabe Fathers, who provide the benefits of monogamy Well I’m onto your little scheme, and I’m gonna put a stop to it How? My plan is in effect right now It’s called the “oral contraceptive pill” And no, it’s not a trick – the benefits are real Basically it takes everything that makes you adaptively moist And replaces it all with rational choice When you’re on it, you can’t smell histocompatibility So your kids’ immune systems might end up a little weak But think about the benefits, please! All the non-masculine, asymmetrical men can breed! And now your infidelity can be about trading-up Instead of trying to get pregnant by a stud We can all relate to trading-up, fine, fair enough It’s just paternity uncertainty that tears us up ‘Cause we understand the facts on the ground It’s kind of like hiring a contractor for your house You can’t get it done well and fast, and cheap You almost always have to choose two out of three And ladies, it seems like the man of your dreams Has good resources, good behaviour, and good genes But unless you’re name happens to be Angelina Jolie You might just have to choose two out of three Just be careful who you choose when you’re pill poppin’ I understand that reproductive choice feels awesome But if you don’t ovulate then you can’t smell a match And mismatched relationships just don’t tend to last She’s ovulating – if she was a stripper I wouldn’t know why but I’d probably wanna tip her She’s ovulating – she’s dressed so provocative My histocompatibility complex is majorly Intoxicating – girl, I’m so symmetrical But you can’t tell if you’re on a contraceptive pill Instead of ovulating – I’m not tryin’ to conceive with you But right now something makes me wanna be with you
9.	Short-Term Mating Dance 03:25	lyrics	buy track
Assembling in these dense colonies Provides the social stimulation That is the key to coordinating their breeding Tonight’s documentary presentation Will explore the short-term mating behaviour Of one of the most remarkable creatures in all creation The Homo sapien Homo sapiens, also known as “humans” Generally mate in pairs, creating the illusion Of a monogamous constitution But the truth is slightly more elusive As is often the case as evolution advances The preferred strategy depends on circumstances And scientists, seeking answers Look to these elaborate courtship dances Males and females congregate In large colonies to display their traits They often fail to find long-term mates But so much flesh will not go to waste And it’s now that the advantages Of breeding in such dense colonies become clear We’ve got a short-term mating dance Up in here, up in here, up in here They’ve come to breed We’ve got a short-term mating dance Up in here, up in here, up in here Note the sexual dimorphism The enlarged male form is invariably caused By competition for female attention Charles Darwin called this “sexual selection” But the females also compete For male parental investment For this species, like no other Has a grotesquely prolonged adolescence Given this fact of developmental anatomy Some have questioned whether a naturally- Selected short-term female mating strategy Could even exist, but in fact, it’s mathematically Certain, for, every short-term copulation That results in conception requires the participation Of one male and one female, hence There must be a mutual inclination And it’s now that the advantages Of breeding in such dense colonies become clear We’ve got a short-term mating dance Up in here, up in here, up in here Females can make their choice from many males While successful males can have access To lots of females One theory is short-term mating For long-term gain, females may appraise The quality of mates from a single liaison To decide whether to allow them to stay on Concealed ovulation allows frequent mating With little fear of conception And keeps males guessing – those who excel In dominance competitions enjoy short-term preference Which suggests that it’s all about the father’s genetics The best ones for feathering the nest And providing temporary protection, may not be The best ones for siring sexy sons But of course, this can be dangerous The scientific study of Homo sapiens Is rather recent, so we can only speculate On the reasons for much of their extraordinary behaviour And it’s now that the advantages Of breeding in such dense colonies become clear We’ve got a short-term mating dance Up in here, up in here, up in here They’ve come to breed We’ve got a short-term mating dance Up in here, up in here, up in here They’ve come to breed We’ve got a short-term mating dance Up in here, up in here, up in here They’ve come to breed After a few days, this gigantic spawning Comes to an end
10.	Parental Investment 04:02	lyrics	buy track
Yeah, Mr. Simmonds, Baba Brinkman Tryin’ to get committed Mr. Simmonds, Baba Brinkman We’re gonna work it out My beautiful producer I just wanna make music With you, sir; I know you’ve been with some seducers Some “super MCs” who just wanna spit lyrics On your tracks and leave, but man, that’s not me! I’ll be with you ‘til it’s done, but this ain’t no hit and run You can run and tell your friends that you’ve met someone Different, and not another prima donna tryin’ to treat you like a Conquest, I wanna make a long-term investment Why? ‘Cause I understand my producer’s plight All a rapper has to do is say some lyrics through the mic And they’re gone like it’s all fun, but in the long run Without producers, no MCs would get their songs done It’s like the birds and bees; words are like sperm for MCs And we need producers to nurture our seeds ‘Cause it’s after we come together that the magic happens That’s when you’re mastering and fiddling with your mad little plug-ins And that’s why I love you, and I wanna commit ‘Cause you’re the perfect producer for me, so I hope we never split ‘Cause if we ever did, you might find a more famous MC But you’ll never find another rapper as dedicated as me Whoever stands to lose their investment By assumin’ the risk will be the choosiest I get producers pregnant It’s just a simple prediction made by evolution Put it to the test But I’m tryin’ to get committed Females invest more resources Except for seahorses and a few exceptions Such as Mormon crickets And me and my producer, when we make this music We’re guided by parental investment And so are men and women Look, I know some rappers have tried to prostitute you And pay you a daily rate for your studio, but this is not what you’re used to And I know I’m not the only one who wants your exclusive attention But you’ve gotta admit man, we have huge potential You and me – we make music beautifully And you would make me the happiest rapper on this planet by choosing me And telling the competition you’re taken I will do everything in my power to advance your situation And besides, those other rappers treat you like a nasty slut So pull you pants up and embrace romantic love! I’m sorry, I just get so jealous when I think on it I like the way your finger toggles so much I wanna put a ring on it And if you make a song and you need somebody to sing on it I understand I can’t sing, so we’ll get some swingers in on it As long as we’re being honest, no arrangement is perfect So it’s okay if I’m not the last rapper you ever work with And I might spit some verses on another producer’s tracks But I will see our projects through to the last until they’re mastered And even after that I will never take you for granted Because I recognize your investment, Jamie, and I aim to match it Whoever stands to lose their investment By assumin’ the risk will be the choosiest You’re so choosy Simmonds It’s just a simple prediction made by evolution Put it to the test But I’ve read Bob Trivers Females invest more resources Except for seahorses and a few exceptions You’ve been kinda promiscuous And me and my producer, when we make this music We’re guided by parental investment But I’ma get you pregnant So what is the actual definition of male and female? The females have the larger gametes, the larger sex cells And Jamie, your studio is larger than my microphone So you’re the woman in this relationship… Whoever stands to lose their investment By assumin’ the risk will be the choosiest So I’ma get committed It’s just a simple prediction made by evolution Put it to the test Go ahead and check it out Females invest more resources Except for seahorses and a few exceptions Like Mormon crickets, right And me and my producer, when we make this music We’re guided by parental investment We’re gonna get invested Whoever stands to lose their investment By assumin’ the risk will be the choosiest You’re kinda choosy Simmonds It’s just a simple prediction made by evolution Put it to the test But we goan get committed Females invest more resources Except for seahorses and a few exceptions Like some kinds of fishes And me and my producer, when we make this music We’re guided by parental investment We’re gonna get committed
11.	The Evolution of Gayness 04:34	lyrics	buy track
No homo Boom bye bye in the batty boy head No homo and I’m all about my money The shots fly, now the batty guy lie dead They say “No homo!” I say “No, homophobe, Get it straight – it’s in the chromosomes” They say “But my religion says it’s a sin” I say “Sell your daughter into slavery then” They say “It’s unnatural, it makes me uneasy” I say “Actually it’s found in four-hundred species “But same-sex mating is an aberration” Okay then, it’s the evolution of gayness Natural selection offers explanations for Every behaviour and complex form That’s something I often say when I’m on a stage And people always say “okay, but what about the gays?” Yup, there’s no exceptions, only limitations To how much information we’ve accumulated So far at least on each specific question The origins of “gayness” is one of the best ones Twin studies suggests that it’s partially genetic But if that’s a definite, then how would you spread it? Ooh, that’s why I love science, ‘cause it loves a mystery How can you spread a gene that limits your fertility? Many different threads of evidence are coalescent But so far it’s just suggestive with no consensus Still, it kinda illustrates the scientific method So I’ll break down the top four hypotheses in question They say “No homo!” I say “No, homophobe, Get it straight – it’s in the chromosomes” They say “But my religion says it’s a sin” I say “Sell your daughter into slavery then” They say “It’s unnatural, it makes me uneasy” I say “Actually it’s found in four-hundred species “But same-sex mating is an aberration” Okay then, it’s the evolution of gayness Hypothesis one: gays are a non-reproductive caste Like we find in termites and naked mole rats To me though, that doesn’t seem convincing ‘Cause gay people don’t obsessively feed their breeding siblings Hypothesis two: it’s a social lubricant That’s used to smooth tension, instead of fighting we smooch with them You’ll find guy-on-guy and girl-on-girl action In bonobos and Asian stump-tailed macaques And it’s a proven tactic, but they’re just bi-sexual That’s the third hypothesis: that “homo” is side-effectual Like with albatrosses, the females mate With each other when there’s not enough males to pull their weight But it’s not like “they just can’t find a man and get impatient” They’re fully same-sex mated – males are for insemination And maybe lesbians who wanted babies made the same Exception in the days before IVF and turkey basters And on the flip side, we’ve got the “sneaky males” In many species some males mimic females So they can mate without having to compete with the alphas Who guard females jealously and treat them like they’re helpless I mean, ‘come on, I know guys who act gay Until the girls let their guard down, and then they’re like “heeyyy!” Which may explain why some of the biggest homophobes Are alpha gorilla types on a testosterone overdose, who say No homo Boom bye bye in the batty boy head No homo and I’m all about my money The shots fly, now the batty guy lie dead Hypothesis four tackles pure homosexual bliss And it mostly consists of genetic tricks ‘Cause some genes are paired up as recessives and dominants And dominants, by definition, get expressed with prominence But sometimes you’re better off with both different types ‘Cause it might, for instance, protect you from parasites So gayness could spread by heterozygote advantage If it’s connected to some other benefit that’s adaptive And a similar path would be for it to get expressed As a massive benefit, but for the opposite sex If a gene gave males a homosexual proclivity But it gave females a massive increase in fertility Then it could spread with ease, and if you raise objections And say “genetic explanations are so oppressive” Would it really be so bad if gays were like albinos? Maybe you see a justification for hate there, but I don’t The real haters are those who say "it's just a simple choice" And preach “rehabilitation,” with their luggage carried by rent boys If it doesn’t cause harm then it shouldn’t face hatred So why don’t we just make it 100% okay then? They say “No homo!” I say “No, homophobe, Get it straight – it’s in the chromosomes” They say “But my religion says it’s a sin” I say “Sell your daughter into slavery then” They say “It’s unnatural, it makes me uneasy” I say “Actually it’s found in four-hundred species “But same-sex mating is an aberration” Okay then, it’s the evolution of gayness
12.	Olivia Judson Message 01:31	lyrics	buy track
Hey Baba, it’s Olivia Judson calling. Thanks for sending me your “Evolution of Gayness” lyrics. I think they’re great – I’m impressed by how much you managed to condense a difficult subject into about four sentences, bravo. But I do have a couple of quibbles. The first thing is to do with recessive and dominant. Not all genes behave in this way; quite a lot don’t. Instead of one gene taking over and being responsible for the main effect, it’s more shared, and both copies of the gene are contributing, so I think you should fix that. And then the other thing is that I think also morality doesn’t come from nature and I think that whether something is found in nature doesn’t make it right for humans; it’s sort of irrelevant. I mean, certainly if you were to look at nature, you could justify pretty much any behavior, from murdering your mother, brether, sister, rape, and so on, and so I think that one has to be very careful about whether we look at the natural world and sort of conclude, okay, well it happens in nature therefore it’s fine for humans to do as well. Obviously I think homosexuality is perfectly fine regardless of who does it, but I think that just because it’s natural does not in and of itself make it the right thing to do. Anyway, thanks again for showing them to me, and good luck. Bye.
13.	Hypothesis 4 (Biological Determinism) 01:19	lyrics	buy track
Evolution is the only theory that science hasn’t rejected For the origins of life, and humans are no exception And if behaviour has a genetic basis and it’s naturally-selected Then human nature hasn’t changed since the days of Homo erectus The modern-day skull houses a stone-aged mind ‘Cause achieving major change in a chromosome takes time You know how kids like sugar on their cornflakes right? Well, that’s evolution in action – we can follow a straight line Back to our ancestors’ food preferences and incest-avoidance And mate preferences, and aversion to ingesting poisons Evolution even explains why the female chest is so boisterous So if you think human nature is flexible, get set for disappointment ‘Cause selfish genes lead to selfish behavior And alpha males impregnate the wives of their helpless neighbors Human beings are socialized to deny their hellish natures But we might as well embrace it now, and deal with the outcome later
14.	Twin Studies 04:34 video	lyrics	buy track
Twin: Hi, is this, uh, Baba Brinkman? Baba: Yeah, who’s this? Twin: Baba Brinkman the “rapping evolutionist” Baba: Yeah Twin: I’m not sure how to tell you this It’s a bit awkward, but, um, I’m your identical twin Baba: No shit? Twin: Yeah, I tracked you down with a Google search, I’ve known for about two years, but I thought No, it’s just too weird Baba: What?!? No way, what’s your birthday? Twin: It’s October 22nd 1978 The same as yours, I tracked you through an adoption agent I’ve been watching you since about 2008 I can’t say why our biological parents would want to separate us But anyway, I thought we should, you know, get acquainted Baba: I’m sorry, I just don’t know what to say I’m shocked, I can’t wait to talk to my mom And dad and ask them what the hell they were on Giving up an identical twin for adoption But I guess they probably had their reasons Twin: So I guess that means You’re a pretty easy-going guy, ‘cause I thought you might You know, be angry, or maybe even cry Baba: Well, maybe when I see you I might need to dry An eye but for now I’m just completely surprised And curious as hell, I mean, what’s the deal? What do you do, do you have kids, do you take care of yourself? Are you married? I mean, this is very surreal Have you ever read about “twin studies”? It’s, like, the only way we can tell Which elements of the personalities we develop Can be called the result of the environmental field Compared to the part that’s beem genetically built Twin: Yeah, I’m not so into science, but my job is That I teach creative writing at a community college And yeah, I have a little girl, and a beautiful wife We’ve been married since 2005 Baba: Creative writing? When you were a kid did your adopted parents Read to you at night Twin: No, they weren’t really “book people”, why? Baba: Oh, it’s just that my dad always likes to take credit For my success as a rapper, ‘cause he read to me as an infant But I always wondered whether my language instincts were genetic And this is evidence Twin: I really pictured this Reunion as having a bit more emotional resonance Baba: Yeah, well, you’re not exactly pouring on the expressiveness Yourself Twin: I know, I’ve never seen the necessity My wife tells me it’s an “emotional repression” thing But I’m not unaffectionate, it just seems excessive to me Baba: Yeah, that could be a description of me Twin: Okay, if we’re questioning What about you, wife, girlfriend? Baba: No, I’m not really a relationship type of person I mean, it’s not like an aversion, it’s just that I’m always on tour and It’s tough to imagine how to even try to work it in Twin: But rapping, you must get some attention from women Baba: Attention, sure, but I’m not indiscriminate I mostly tour colleges campuses, you can picture it In town for one night, most women just aren’t into it I mean, there’s been an occasional grad student incident Twin: My wife is a grad student Baba: Yeah, well, I’m envious I wish I could have that kind of connection, intimate My lifestyle could hardly be more itinerant Twin: You came to my college, in 2006, you rapped The Canterbury Tales for the medieval English class Baba: What? Why didn’t you contact me? Twin: Because I didn’t know I only tracked you two years ago, remember? Plus I was on sabbatical, me and my wife, we had this whole… That time was stressful Baba: Oh, sorry bro Twin: Look, it’s not your fault, it’s just that I turned into this guy, this safe provider type And I panicked, and I left my wife, and I moved to the other side Of the planet, to Europe, but it just didn’t fit me I was just an anonymous writer in a big city And I wasn’t confident with women so I lasted six weeks Baba: And your wife took you back, huh? Twin: Yup, I guess that’s love And then nine months later along came little Rebecca Baba: Nine months later? Twin: Yeah, give or take It’s funny how our lives have developed in different ways I mean, I envy your lifestyle – it looks pretty flat-out I decided to contact you when I saw you on Rachel Maddow Baba: Yeah, she’s fantastic… so you and your wife You’ve been happy since your little European crisis? Twin: Yeah, she’s a good mother, I’m lucky to have her Baba: And you’re never tempted to, you know, stray from the pasture? Hook up with one of your students maybe, I don’t know Do something crazy? Twin: Yeah, I’m tempted, occasionally But it’s a two-way street, right? I mean, basically How can I trust her if she can’t trust me? Baba: And you trust her? Twin: Yes, now, but I’ve had some jealous times I mean, when Rebecca was like two and half I took her to the clinic and I got a check-up and I Asked the doctor to give her a paternity test on the side Baba: Really, why? Does she have like an “ethnic vibe”? Twin: No, she looks like me, she’s freckled and white She was just born a bit quickly after that difficult time And I didn’t wanna be suspicious, but I… Baba: And the verdict? Twin: The doctor said she’s definitely mine One hundred percent DNA test certified Baba: Oh, that’s great then, I’d love to meet your kid Twin: And my wife… Baba: Yeah, I was gonna say that next Okay, look, I have to go, there’s this thing for the Fringe I’m writing this play about… Twin: Yeah, Human Nature, yes I’ve been tracking you through your Facebook friends I’ll be interested to hear what you have to say about twins Baba: Yeah, well, as soon as I can, I’ll come visit you Twin: Okay, Baba, just call me when you’re ready to
15.	GOCASE 04:13	lyrics	buy track
G stands for “General intelligence”, which Some people seem to believe doesn’t exist But common sense suggests that in a contest of wits We’d all rather have the winners be our family and friends O stands for “Openness to experience” It predicts the degree to which you’ll be curious And interested in difference instead of scared of it Different people with different ideas in different areas C stands for “Conscientiousness”, the percentage Of your mental effort that you put into planning ahead And managing your work ethic, instead of just letting Everything drift, things like organizing your desk and shit A is for “Agreeableness”, that’s the degree to which You really give a damn if people think you’re being a dick It’s the adhesive that makes communities stick together And the number one thing that keeps me from being rich S is for “Stability”, sometimes confused with Insensitivity, that’s what keeps you steady And chillin’ instead of feelin’ weakness and fragility When life is full of unpredictability E is for “Extroversion” – extroverts get their energy From networkin’ and meeting the next person And extreme introverts require video game addiction services And die as spinster virgins Go-Case, Go-Case Everything I do is so Go-Case And if you are a Go-Case too Show me what you got – I want proof Go-Case, Go-Case Everything I say is so Go-Case And if you are a Go-Case too Show me what you got – I want proof There’s no need to beat around the bush, if you really wanna Look closely, then you’ll see what I’m tryin’ to push It’s ME, rappin’ is a massive display Of a handful of stable personality traits And obviously it’s an advertisement of brains Why would I say otherwise? ‘Cause you guys’ll complain? But you can’t accuse me of just tryin’ to get mates ‘Cause I’ve made some great creative allies advertising this way And openness, there’s no idea I’m afraid of Try me and you’ll see what I’m made of I’m even open to the notion that some ideas are made-up That’s why I want the evidence weighed-up And I’m conscientious enough to wanna translate Science for the masses and help demolish the blank slate ‘Cause pseudo-science impacts the world in a bad way It fucks up the feng shui But I think my agreeableness is going down With each passing year that rolls around ‘Cause I’m drowning in bullshit, and I refuse to tone it down Now I’m more stable than ever in the face storm clouds And extroversion? I’ve been into meeting people Since I was just an urchin, so the E is motivation for me Like “ooh, I think this letter’s workin’” It’s connecting with people that makes the effort worth it Go-Case, Go-Case Everything I do is so Go-Case And if you are a Go-Case too Show me what you got – I want proof Go-Case, Go-Case Everything I say is so Go-Case And if you are a Go-Case too Show me what you got – I want proof I bought a copy of “Spent”, and left it nonchalantly On the coffee table, so that all of my friends Would know that I was following psychology trends But that’s when the arguments got intense I tried to tell them they were wasting their time And money on all the stuff they were buying And that it was all just a bunch of fake signals designed To take advantage of the instincts in their stone-age minds But they didn’t wanna listen, they said “That’s not how it works It’s a competition, you can’t just opt out first Even if a conversation is a better way to display Your personality traits than trading your dot-matrix For an iPad, what if someone comes along With the exact same conversation skills that I have? We’ll need a tie-breaker, and that’s when my taste in Ethical fashion pays me back – that’s my wager It doesn’t have to make me massively more Attractive; it just has to increase my chances to score On average, and help me get my hand in the door That’s what these brands are for, so have fun With your consumption tax reform, and tell me when it’s safe To leave the arms race, huh?” And I got frustrated and said “Hey fuck-face, you’re acting like a real Stop-Case” And I got punched in the face, ‘cause I’m a… Go-Case, Go-Case Everything I do is so Go-Case And if you are a Go-Case too Show me what you got – I want proof Go-Case, Go-Case Everything I say is so Go-Case And if you are a Go-Case too Show me what you got – I want proof
16.	Wannabe G's 05:38	lyrics	buy track
Ghetto boys Die by twenty-five Or catch a quick three-to-five From a young white Canadian Wannabe G’s perspective Baby baby Reminiscin’ back To when I wanted to be part of gangster rap To be a gangster, or not to be a gangster, that is the question Do you find it impressive or do you find it offensive? Well now I find it offensive, but if I go back to the exact moment My own hormonal clock ticked over into adolescence God damn! I don’t understand these rules, man It’s like they’re just designed to hold me back, but gangster rap Now that seems cool, yeah, that Ice Cube attitude And 2 Live Crew, like “Unh me so horny” – yeah me too! I just wanna screw everything that moves, but these high school chicks Man, is it me or do they only like guys who act like huge dicks? I’m lookin’ for role models and all I can find is Bruce Willis And Slick Rick, and my parents want me to plan for the future? Man, fuck that! What I need is some swagger to compete with these bastards For female attention – I’m not tryin’ to get a teenager pregnant But at least me and my henchmen need to be seen as contenders And these gangsters on TV, man, they could be our secret weapon I mean, I’m not a killer, but I roll with some pot dealers So yeah, I’ve got a rebellious side, and I bet lots of these guys Who live in villas are about as real as the zombies in Thriller right? Obviously I was vanilla, but I just had this feelin’ This visceral attraction to rap; it was just like I just had to listen Plus I was an avid mimic, so I guess my gangster obsession Made me a poster boy for the natural selection of inaccurate perceptions The evolution of self-deception Emulating ghetto boys Even if we’re not in ghetto streets Exaggerating the threat of violence It’s a state of mind That dictates reality Evolution has no foresight It moves like a person through a dark forest by torchlight With no map, no compass, no divine oversight So we can’t expect it to behave nice or known what’s right Suppose you knew your death would be on March 17th when you’re 73 What kind of person does evolution predict you would be? It predicts men will breed slightly more promiscuously and women Slightly more selectively ‘cause their investment is relatively extreme But since co-parenting is so very beneficial To your adorable little genetic vessels, the sexual Differences are often negligible – what the longevity really predicts Is a constant investment in your long-term potential You would plan for the future, and be a contributor to your community And make a long-term winner out of a short-term loser Now imagine you knew you would die at thirty-five What does evolution predict that you would do to survive And reproduce? If you’re a man, it predicts you would fight Thug life, fuck the world, yeah, what, ready to die Why? ‘Cause these young girls get pregnant quick And if they don’t, well then they don’t get to spend much time with their kids And they only hook up with the guys that are rich The ones who cut throats and leave their victims to die in a ditch So why are adolescents prone to pro-gangster biases? Maybe because they don’t know how long they’re likely to live Emulating ghetto boys Even if we’re not in ghetto streets Exaggerating the threat of violence It’s a state of mind That dictates reality So what up G, are you a real G or just a studio G? How many people do I have to body for you to believe? None really, it’s a front really, I just want you to feel me In reality I’m a civilian, I think thuggin’ is silly But if I’m bein’ threatened, then hell yeah I can be aggressive I’ll fight you straight up, unless you come at me with a weapon ‘Cause weapons are the democratization of physical strength So I’ll pack a weapon too, except I’ll fill it with blanks I’ll just use it for threat displays, but if I get tested Then I’ll get disgraced, so it’s time to go load up the tech and spray Mutherfuckers like Scarface, yeah, Tony Montana – explode some shells! My threat level is more effective the less I know myself ‘Cause these dogs can smell fear, so I’m fearless, hell yeah I’m a twelve-year-old gangster; you better steer well clear And that’s how you go from a well-intentioned adolescent male To another thrill-seeking statistic in jail But hip-hop culture isn’t about causing harm for no reason In a way it’s an artistic arms-control agreement I thought it was survival of the fittest, but instead it Turned out to be survival of the illest lyrics in the minds of listeners So now my ex-gangster obsession gets exapted To something less graphic, like trading Gladiator for X-factor So instead of bellyaching on the generation gap Why don’t you try bangin’ some gangster rap and see if it takes you back
17.	Hypothesis 5 (Evolutionism) 01:30	lyrics	buy track
The scope of evolution is truly amazing It explains so much, from the allure of a beautiful lady To the taste of food, to the roots of human nature But if you think it’s just genes duplicating, don’t be too hasty The genes inside of us out-competed rival genes And some of them arrived on the scene by violent means But others arrived by designing minds that dream And learn how to settle rivalries using things like rhyme schemes Evolution explains design in nature As the selective retention of blind variation And that’s exactly how the mind explores design spaces And when it finds something nice it says “Damn, I’m creative!” So it’s time to turn the page on that played out nature Versus nurture debate, ‘cause every urge, every murderous rage Aand every peace-making word that we say Is just the product of one simple process churning away
18.	David Sloan Wilson Message 01:12	lyrics	buy track
Hey Baba, this is David Sloan Wilson. I’ve read your script – I like it a lot. I don’t agree with everything but I think that everything you say is part of the current mix of possibilities and you’ll be able to find experts such as myself to agree with you. I think it’s important to stress that science is a provisional process; it is a variation and selection evolutionary process just like the rest of culture, and so us scientists get things wrong also, but as yet the best mechanism we have for figuring out the truth. So I hope you can work that into your rap; I think that you’re pioneering, basically the merging of science and everyday life, so best of luck. Bye bye.
19.	Fame in the Brain 03:55	lyrics	buy track
So many theories of human nature to choose from So many competing agendas spinning illusions So many incentives not to let the truth come Six million ways to lie, choose one Humans aren’t just culture-bearing blank slates Our psychology has an innate landscape So don’t treat a mountain range like a pancake That’s like tryin’ to stop a bleeder with a band-aid As a rapper I’m just tryin’ to get a fan-base And it won’t happen if I suck like a lamprey I’m not a scientist, baby, I just translate So don’t trust me ‘cause I’m on a fame campaign So how does it feel to be classed with other species Of mammals, and find yourself with an order, family, and genus Like bats and rhesus monkeys? If your reaction is squeamish Remember, just ‘cause I said it, you don’t have to believe it I said “Xenophobia can be traced back to diseases” You could say “But I hate immigrants for good rational reasons” Perhaps then we’ve reached an impassable disagreement But that’s why the scientific method is genius Ooh the scientific method, it’s the scientific method You can try to just reject it and deny that it’s impressive But you’ll find that it’s an excellent device to get your message Into minds, if you consent to have your hypothesis tested So if you find evolutionary psych just offensive You can whine and just try to say “oh, it’s violent and it’s sexist” And accuse evolutionists of biasing their efforts That’s called “non-compliance with the scientific method” You can say my information is wrong, or maybe not Maybe my interpretation of information is wrong But c’mon, all I’m really tryin’ to do is make some songs I’m just tryin’ to get a whole lot of people singin’ along Why? ‘Cause I find that when I’m thinkin’ my thoughts And verbalizin’ them, when I say it just right they get caught Up in your mind just like a virus, and since I was the source You recognize me and that’s how I get the things that I want Humans aren’t just culture-bearing blank slates Our psychology has an innate landscape So don’t treat a mountain range like a pancake That’s like tryin’ to stop a bleeder with a band-aid As a rapper I’m just tryin’ to get a fan-base And it won’t happen if I suck like a lamprey I’m not a scientist, baby, I just translate So don’t trust me ‘cause I’m on a fame campaign For me the manipulation of words is just a game But it’s a game that’s influential in some interesting ways ‘Cause when I listen to lyricists and hear just what they’re saying It’s like their aim is to infiltrate the filters in my brain In a way you could say that’s the definition of “fame” Not a physical state, just an impression that remains Encoded as information in the conscious mental plane A repetition of a repetition that proliferates But the pattern of proliferation isn’t arbitrary It’s an honorary version of Charles Darwin’s theory Of differential replication, but with your thoughts and queries ‘Cause when people talk, notice how the uptake varies So hip-hop songs are domesticated commentaries That evolve by solving problems in conflict areas They carry us along, kinda like dromedaries Domesticated by Arabs in response to water scarcity All these cultural variants reproduce in our minds But our minds were designed by evolution to blind us To the truth if lies help us reproduce and survive That’s why falling out of love is always truly surprising And that’s why I love rap, but I’m a student of science ‘Cause science is the only system that humans have devised That lets us step outside of our huge thick biases And view the world as it is unfalsified Humans aren’t just culture-bearing blank slates Our psychology has an innate landscape So don’t treat a mountain range like a pancake That’s like tryin’ to stop a bleeder with a band-aid As a rapper I’m just tryin’ to get a fan-base And it won’t happen if I suck like a lamprey I’m not a scientist, baby, I just translate So don’t trust me ‘cause I’m on a fame campaign

about

“An inspired, groove heavy, high production values record with a wonderful lyrical touch."
– Mind Hacks
mindhacks.com/2010/08/02/down-and-dirty/

"If Eminem and Dawkins had a baby, Baba Brinkman would be the result... does a wonderful job at explaining what makes science so important."
– Elephant Journal
www.elephantjournal.com/2011/01/rap-guide-to-human-nature/

"A genius work of popular culture attempting to integrate itself with the current level of human knowledge."
– Refresher Towel
refreshertowel.wordpress.com/2014/12/23/the-rap-guide-to-human-nature/

"I’m no hip-hop connoisseur – in fact I’ve never really listened to it – but I’ve enjoyed the music of this album as much and possibly more than the science contained within his lyrics and it has made me want to try out more rap."
– Spotisfaction
web.archive.org/web/20160328113537/http://www.spotisfaction.co.uk/2010/10/14/review-baba-brinkman-rap-guide-to-human-nature-independent-2010/

credits

released August 1, 2010

All tracks Producer, Mixed, and Mastered by Mr. Simmonds

Instrumentals available here:
mrsimmonds.bandcamp.com/album/the-rap-guide-to-human-nature-instrumentals

Credits

You Can’t See Me
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Aaron Nazrul
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds
Additional Reading:
Chabris & Simons, The Invisible Gorilla
Robert Trivers, "Elements of a Scientific
Theory of Self-Deception"
Robert Wright, The Moral Animal

Hypothesis 1 (Creationism)
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds
Additional Reading:
www.creation.com

No Bugs On Me
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds
Additional Reading:
Geoffrey Miller, Spent (Chapter 12)
Jonathan Haidt, www.ted.com
Google: behavioral immune system
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBU6-XK2v54

David Buss Message
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds, D. Buss)

Hypothesis 2 (Spiritualism)
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds
Additional Reading:
www.eckharttolle.com

The Planter’s Dilemma
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Additional Reading:
D. S. Wilson, The Neighborhood Project
www.brinkmanforest.ca

Hypothesis 3 (Social Constructivism)
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds

She’s Ovulating
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Additional Reading:
Alverne & Lummaa, "Does the contraceptive
pill alter mate choice in humans?" (TREE)
Google: ovulation and mate choice

Short Term Mating Dance
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds
Additional Reading:
David Buss, Evolutionary Psychology (Chapter 6)

Parental Investment
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Additional Reading:
Sarah Hrdy, Mother Nature

The Evolution of Gayness
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds
Additional Reading:
Olivia Judson, Dr. Tatiana's Sex
Advice to All Creation (Chapter 9)

Olivia Judson Message
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds, O. Judson)

Hypothesis 4 (Biological Determinism)
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds

Twin Studies
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Reading:
Steven Pinker, The Blank Slate

GOCASE
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Additional Reading:
Geoffrey Miller, Spent

Wannabe G’s
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds
Additional Reading:
Robert Trivers, "Self-Deception"
Chabris & Simons, The Invisible Gorilla (Chapter 3)
Daly & Wilson, Homicide
psych.mcmaster.ca/dalywilson

Hypothesis 5 (Evolutionism)
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Vocals: Noa Bodner
Additional Keys: Simon Kendall
Cuts: Mr. Simmonds
Additional Reading:
scienceblogs.com/evolution

David Sloan Wilson Message
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds, D. S. Wilson)

Fame in the Brain
(D. Brinkman, J. Simmonds)
Additional Reading:
Daniel C. Dennett, Sweet Dreams (Chapter 7)
ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/papers/cognition.fin.htm

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Baba Brinkman New York, New York

Science rapper and inventor of several novel hip-hop variants. Canadian transplant to New York. Pathological optimist.

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